BU Bridge Construction Progress

The rehabilitation of the BU Bridge connecting Boston and Cambridge shows visible progress during the summer of 2010.

The $17.8 million project is funded by Governor Patrick's historic eight-year, $3 billion Accelerated Bridge Program. Ongoing work in the past three months included the pouring of sidewalk and curbing and completion of concrete deck paving. On the main span of the bridge within the steel arches the bridge deck and sidewalk were demolished and structural steel repairs begun. The full bridge width also has been deleaded, cleaned and painted.

Drainage work has begun with the installation of bridge deck scuppers, water quality structures, and drainage pipes on the Cambridge side of the bridge.

The BU Bridge joins the Longfellow project among several investments totaling more than $300 million in rebuilding the bridges along the Charles River Basin, also including the Craigie Drawbridge, and the Western Avenue, River Street, and Anderson Memorial Bridges.

Recent Posts

Today, MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack announced Brian Shortsleeve will serve as the Chief Administrator for the MBTA, working alongside the newly appointed Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB), interim General Manager Frank DePaola, who will continue in his current role focusing solely on operations and …Continue Reading MassDOT Secretary Announces MBTA Leadership Team

The Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project moves forward with demolition work that will require bridge closures. MassDOT’s contractor, White-Skanska-Consigli JV (WSC), will periodically close the Longfellow Bridge to all vehicular traffic beginning on Saturday, August 1 through Friday, August 21. The closures are necessary to safely …Continue Reading Longfellow Bridge: August Closures Update

Recent Posts

Today, MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack announced Brian Shortsleeve will serve as the Chief Administrator for the MBTA, working alongside the newly appointed Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB), interim General Manager Frank DePaola, who will continue in his current role focusing solely on operations and …Continue Reading MassDOT Secretary Announces MBTA Leadership Team

The Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Project moves forward with demolition work that will require bridge closures. MassDOT’s contractor, White-Skanska-Consigli JV (WSC), will periodically close the Longfellow Bridge to all vehicular traffic beginning on Saturday, August 1 through Friday, August 21. The closures are necessary to safely …Continue Reading Longfellow Bridge: August Closures Update

How will traffic be routed on the Cambridge side? For the people who program the traffic lights, please consider decreasing the red light time for Westbound traffic on Memorial after Micro Center. I think this is the River Street intersection. Traffic backs up for no apparent reason. Allowing more cars to pass through on a green light could alleviate some of the congestion at the BU Bridge rotary.

I was looking at the original project plan for this bridge located here: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/materials/bubridge7-30-09.pdf It appears that Phase 1 of this project was supposed end in April 2010. It looks like the project is STILL in Phase 1, which tells me the project is at least 5 months behind schedule. If that’s the case, this bridge is going to be under construction well into 2012 and that is NOT sustainable. ======================================== Thanks. The current scheduled completion date- end of 2011- has not changed.

I am pleased to see that Mass Highway has taken over this project. The idea of dropping two traffic lanes in order to accommodate a relatively small number of bicycle riders at the expense of the 6,000 motor vehicle operators and their passengers each day seems nuts. Our Cambridgeport neighborhood is full of bike riders, but under the DCR plan we will be suffering traffic backups and enraged motor vehicle operators throughout our neighborhood for years to come at rush hours. These backups will continue to occur even in the rain and in the winter when the number of bicyclists becomes sharply reduced. I walk, bicycle and drive a car. For years sharing the sidewalk on the bridge has been the standard for me and still is. It is not a dangerous arrangement and does not negatively affect traffic. It does slow me down a bit on my bike and forces me to consider others when walking. However, it produces no substantial problem for me or others. While I am pleased to see more bike paths in the neighborhood, in Cambridge, and in Boston, having them on this bridge causes a series of unsafe conditions that must be avoided following the completion of construction.

Please clarify: When the project is completed, how many car traffic lanes will there be in each direction? Are bicycles going to be restricted from using sidewalks so that they have to take over a car lane? If so, why couldn’t pedestrians have one sidewalk and bikes the other? ============================================ The final striping plan for car lanes is still being finalized. A dedicated use sidewalk for bikes on one side and peds on the other was considered but proved not to be practical. Input from community advocates, users, abutters, and the cities all indicated that enforcement of such a system would be a problem and there was little desire for it from users.

Following up on an earlier post. It seems based on what I have read that the project is still in phase 1. That was supposed to have ended in April of this year. That would indicate that the project is 7 months behind. How is the project going to be completed on time if the first phase has fallen that far behind? It would stand to reason that even if the other phases are completed on time the project would be finished in the second half of 2012. According to this document I found http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/materials/bubridge7-30-09.pdf, the phase 1 project should have taken 8 months. Assuming it started on time, it has taken almost twice as long. How are the two other phases going to be completed faster than expected, let alone on time? ============================================ Thanks for the comment. Next phase work begins in 2011. Contractors are adjusting schedules as necessary, and the completion date in 2012 is unchanged.

“the completion date in 2012 is unchanged” “The current scheduled completion date- end of 2011- has not changed.” It changed in this thread. ============================================ Thanks for noticing. They are in effect the same- end of 2011 is the scheduled completion time.

I just read the article in the Globe on the BU bridge and the associated comments. This plan of permanently reducing the number of auto lanes from 4 is INSANE. The pollution and angst caused by the backup in the traffic circle on the Cambridge side EVERY evening is just crazy. The idea of making one walkway for pedestrians and one for bikes is remarkably sensible. The idea that it has been rejected to reduce the auto lanes is beyond belief. The comment from the officials that: “A dedicated use sidewalk for bikes on one side and peds on the other was considered but proved not to be practical. Input from community advocates, users, abutters, and the cities all indicated that enforcement of such a system would be a problem and there was little desire for it from users.” is, to put it mildly, garbage. Just which users have been asked? I suggest you survey the thousands of drivers who spend untold hours in the traffic what they think about this idea! It is almost criminal that a few ‘community advocates’ who have an anti-car agenda can have such inappropriate influence. Who exactly elected these advocates? I didn’t. Why not let our elected officials hold town meetings and make sure the common person user is made aware of the meetings. So called public meetings that are known only to ‘community advocates’ distort perceptions. MAKE THE BU BRIDGE 4 TRAFFIC LANES!!!

In today’s Boston Globe article on this construction project, even all commenting bicyclists came down AGAINST this project’s being a reasonable idea. In fact, bicyclists are convinced that the traffic snarls will NOT be eased post-construction, and that the resulting gridlock around the Memorial Drive side will be much more hazardous to cyclists than was the status quo of sharing bridge space with pedestrians. If the total width of the bridge will remain unchanged, and all that will happen is that the lanes will be divided and identified differently, but traffic will not be impacted and backed up, please explain (1) why this should not have been tested first using concrete dividers (like the zippers) or paint, as a temporary phase for 3- to 6-months to note the actual effect of the change, and (2) how on earth this can cost the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. It is outrageous! I swear, I could incorporate a small company, buy the necessary equipment, bring the 5 guys I paid to put in a proper sidewalk on my property, and complete the darned project within 2- or 3-months for under a million dollars. Why does it cost so much? As a citizen, I would love to see the itemized expenses for every single dollar of just a single construction project paid for by the Commonwealth!

The BU bridge crossing was a disaster tonight around 6:00 PM. I left work at 5:50 PM about 2 blocks away from the bridge and crossed into Cambridge at about 6:25. I sat on the bridge for nearly 10 minutes. all spokes to the bridge were backed up for blocks in Cambridge and Boston and there were cops at every intersection – except in Cambridge, where they never are.

Just spent more than an hour idling with fellow drivers to get across the BU bridge. Was late for childcare pick-up and am increasingly frustrated that a commute that should take 10 minutes is unpredicable from 20 minutes to an hour and a half. Thebridge was just sufficient to handle the traffic at 4 lanes and certainly will not be sufficent with two lanes, especially in bad weather or in the summer when the circle needs to handle the increased traffic of RedSox games. Bikes on one sidewalk and pedestrians on the other makes a lot more sense. Can you elaborate on “not practical comment”? —————————————————————————- Because the bridge replacement is being done in thirds, the remaining two-thirds of the bridge can only accommodate a maximum of two lanes of traffic. Construction is approximately 40 percent complete and is slated to conclude in December.

The 1/17 Globe article says “given the ‘strong desire’ by bicycle groups and others to have a separate, pedestrian-free space for more advanced riders, the plans for two dedicated bike lanes was born.” A commenter wrote: “As a driver and noncommuting cyclist, I have been more than happy to share my traffic lane with cyclists, who for the most part are riding as quickly as cars truly need to drive over the bridge. Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep traffic flowing with a return to increased traffic lanes and a priority marking on outer lanes for cyclists?” I commuted by bike for 10 years and agree. Create well marked “sharrows” on the BU bridge so that “more advanced riders” can ride in the outer traffic lanes along with cars. (Less advanced riders could continue to share walkways with pedestrians as in the past.) Drivers don’t need or want to cross the bridge at a high rate of speed. But the alternative scenario is unacceptable on a longterm basis: single lane entries create bottlenecks and the reduced bridge capacity creates total gridlock at both entrances to the bridge and significant backups on all neighboring streets. Cars idling for 20-30 minutes or more on city streets are bad for health, both personal and climate.

Sitting on the CT2 bus now… Waiting 45 minutes just to reach the BU Bridge. 12 more months of work is fine and all but we need real traffic relief *now* or my fellow commuters and I may not be able to keep our jobs much longer. Were it not sub-zero temps, I’d walk. Although the snow and ice doesn’t get properly removed from the bridge and immediate areas, so it’s often icey and very dangerous.

This project has become a disaster. For what seems like years now, I endure wait times of 20-30 minutes or more, fighting with other cars for a spot, trying to get around a rotary from Cambridge (Memorial) to Boston in the evening. It has gotten worse in recent weeks as they closed the merge lane, now requiring a hard right turn and more delay. The police sit at the turn, pushing people through the light when they can, but they do nothing to ease the overall congestion and chaotic traffic pattern. The planners of this project have made a serious mistake in this “temporary” (ha! I can’t remember when it started and the timline is basically unknown) traffic problem — I only hope that the end result justifies this complete mess. My only question is, does anyone read/address these complaints or is this just a place to complain? ————————————————————————- Thanks. Yes, we read all comments, forward them to project managers, and provide answers here when possible. In this case, the bridge deck replacement is being done in thirds, therefore the remaining two-thirds of the bridge can only accommodate a maximum of two lanes of traffic. The construction for this project is approximately 40 % complete and MassDOT just switched to the second phase of construction. Phase II will run from January until June and then switch to the final Phase. The project is scheduled for final completion in December 2011.

How many lanes of traffic will there be once the repairs are completed? ————————————————————————— The construction plans include two 5-foot bike lanes and three 10-foot travel lanes. The travel lanes will consist of one lane on to the bridge transitioning into two 10 foot travel lanes exiting the bridge at both the Boston and Cambridge approaches. The two dedicated 5-foot bike lanes will run adjacent to the sidewalks.

Any updates on construction progress? When will more lanes open? Any chance of accelerating this project by adding more workers or shifts? The daily traffic snarl is really horrific, backing up on both sides of the river and affecting those crossing the bridge as well as those just trying to pass by on Mem Drive or Comm Ave. The police are usually there and seem to be trying hard but there is little they can do with only one lane open in each direction. ————————————————————————— Thanks, passed the traffic issues along to the project leaders. The BU Bridge project is on schedule, moving from phase II now into the final phase of the work. Completion scheduled for late 2011.

Can we get an update re: what phase we’re in and when this will be done. I understand after phase three there is some clean-up, painting, aesthetic work, etc. Will all lanes be open for that? —————————————————————————- We are currently scheduled to pave the current Phase in mid-August. We will then begin switching over traffic to the final phase. Demolition of the final phase will begin either in late August. Construction is scheduled to be complete on 12/15/11. That will include all paving, line striping, and opening of the bridge to the final traffic configuration depicted on the plans.

To Brian, Chris, Josh, and others who have commented about the current mess on the BU Bridge and/or asked how many vehicle lanes will be open when construction is finished – my understanding is the final configuration will be as on page 13 of the following PDF file, i.e. single lane entries at each end of the bridge. www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/materials/bubridge7-30-09.pdf So the single-lane entries which are currently creating terrible backups on Mem Drive and Comm Ave are planned to continue in the future. Yes, it will fan out to 2 lanes exiting (thus theoretically “3 lanes across the bridge”). Hah! I believe the bottlenecks at the entry will NOT be relieved by 2 lanes exiting, and so the current mess will continue in perpetuity. As one writer wrote elsewhere, there used to be slight delays across the bridge but now there are incredible delays. (And note that this will continue to be the case in December through March when all but the most intrepid bike riders have switched to other forms of transportation due to weather and/or darkness.) Better plans have been suggested to improve bicycle safety over the bridge, but this plan was very poorly conceived. As a result, neighboring residential neighborhoods in Cambridge and Boston/Brookline are suffering and will continue to suffer the impact of congestion and pollution for years to come. Chris wrote: “I only hope that the end result justifies this complete mess.” Don’t hold your breath waiting for improvement because it’s not coming. This blog is no solution because many comment anonymously and receive anonymous replies. ————————————————————————— Thanks for the comment. The lane configuration was developed jointly with Cambridge and Boston after an extensive public process that solicited input from the pedestrian, biking, and motorist community. The construction plans include two 5-foot bike lanes and three 10-foot travel lanes. The travel lanes will consist of one lane on to the bridge transitioning into two 10 foot travel lanes exiting the bridge at both the Boston and Cambridge approaches. The two dedicated 5-foot bike lanes will run adjacent to the sidewalks.

Dear Mass DOT, Please listen to the posts on this site. Your plan for one lane car entrances to the BU bridge will not work. Demonstrate that you can correct a flawed plan, NOW. Four traffic lanes are needed.